Windswept – Winter 1999-2000, Volume 40 Number 4
Windswept is Mount Washington Observatory's quarterly member magazine. Offering an exclusive look at all things Mount Washington, each edition features stories about the mountain's weather, personalities, news and special events.
As a member benefit, many editions of Windswept are now available online! If you are a current Observatory member, please sign into your MWO Web Account to access the online page reader tool. If you are not a member, we invite you to join us.
Features
- Research at the Observatory - A History of Survival
- The story of the scientific endeavor at the core of the Observatory's mission.
By Guy Gosselin. - The Research Situation Today
- Acronyms abound in this rundown of the Observatory's present research load.
By Duncan McKee - Research Awakens
- Tracing the thread of research connections from the past to the present, and perhaps beyond.
By Kenneth Rancourt - Trustee Profile: Wayne Presby
- By Eric Pinder
- Parker H. Vincent: 1916-1999
- Ken Rancourt Marks Twentieth Year
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At a recent meeting of the Board of Trustees, a major order of business was the recognition of Kenneth Rancourt's twentieth anniversary of service with the Observatory. Helping to commemorate this milestone were Guy Gosselin, who hired Ken in the fall of 1979, and President Paul Fitzgerald, who presented Ken with a plaque expressing the gratitude of the organization.
Ken brought with him a Masters Degree in Meteorology, but his many other talents epitomized the hiring philosophy of the day, which was to find observers with as many skills crammed into them as possible. For many years -- even after he became Staff Meteorologist and, later, Associate Director for Research & Operations -- Ken continued to weld, drive heavy equipment, do carpentry, and troubleshoot computers.
Named Director for Science and Operations in 1997, Ken has presided over a multitude of changes, improvements, and expanded research activity that is appropriately documented in this issue of Windswept. Trustees and staff present at the meeting applauded Ken for his service and commended his effort to develop the Observatory's research facility and attract meaningful and well-funded research projects.
- Tammy Shedd New Administrative Assistant
The first voice heard by most people who call the Observatory Administrative Office in North Conway is that of Tammy Shedd. Tammy signed on as Administrative Assistant in October. She is a New Hampshire native and has resided in North Conway for four years. She attends the College for Lifelong Learning and is pursuing a degree in psychology with long-term aspirations of becoming a substance abuse counselor. In her "free time", Tammy enjoys activities such as mountain biking, snowboarding, hiking, camping and snowshoeing.- Anna Porter Joins Summit Staff
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Anna Porter, of Providence, Rhode Island, is our newest observer. She has an undergraduate degree in Geology/Biology from Brown University, and joins the shift of Sarah Curtis.Anna has spent considerable time in the White Mountains, partly for her own recreation, but also because she has been involved in outdoor education for the AMC. She has taught stream and forest ecology and orienteering to middle school students, and has led mountain biking, backpacking, and white water kayaking trips for teenagers.
Anna enjoys climbing, skiing, and wilderness photography. Her love of the outdoors inspired her to become a Wilderness EMT. Fortunately for her shiftmates, she is also an avid scrablle player.
During her down time, Anna, who lives in North Conway, will be doing substitute teaching in the Conway school system. She is looking forward to her first winter on the summit after spending last winter in the desert of southern Nevada.
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